Conroe ISD: "Slow down and pay attention" in school zones

By MICHELLE IRACHETA, michelle.iracheta@chron.com

Published 4:13 pm, Saturday, August 12, 2017

Photo: Michelle Iracheta

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County construction workers install a new traffic signal at the corner of Birnham Woods at Waterbend Cove. The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

County construction workers install a new traffic signal at the corner of Birnham Woods at Waterbend Cove. The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for

The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for the start of the school year.

The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for the start of the school year.

Photo: Michelle Iracheta

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The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for the start of the school year.

The Conroe Independent School District together with the County are stepping up safety protocols for the start of the school year.

Photo: Michelle Iracheta

Conroe ISD: "Slow down and pay attention" in school zones

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The Conroe Independent School District, working with Montgomery County, is stepping up safety preparations and officer patrols for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

Expect to see an increased presence of law enforcement during the first weeks of school and an abundance of added safety measures, including new crosswalks, flashers and traffic signals around schools, said CISD Police Chief Bill Harness.

It's all in effort to keep children safe, said Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, who collaborated with the district to help prepare for the school year.

"We are coming off the summer months where motorists have not been paying attention to these school zones," Noack said. "We want to remind them that school zone safety is a priority."

Traffic Operations Manager for precinct 3 Charles Cobb said the county and the district have been diligently working to add an increased number of flashers and traffic signals around schools with heavy traffic flow, such as Powell Elementary, which sits at the corner of Research Forest Drive and Cochran's Crossing Drive.

"The most important factor is the safety of our children," Cobb said. "With school starting, we want to make sure that people slow down and pay attention."

Distracted or speeding drivers could face hefty fines and citations if they do not follow Texas state law regarding cellphone usage in school zones, which prohibits all but hands-free devices, Harness said.

"What we have seen over the years, even on the school property, in the car rider line, if you're not paying attention, kids dart in front of school buses, behind school buses, behind cars, in front of the cars," Harness said. "And if you're not paying attention, you can hit one. We have had some near misses and we've had some injuries. We've had some children knocked to the ground by distracted drivers."

Harness is urging parents to help the district keep their children safe.

"Leave early," he said. "We know that parents like to drop off their kiddos the first day of school. That's great. Parents understand that safety of our children is first. We count on our parents to get our children safely to school."

For the first few weeks of school, it will be "all hands on deck" for law enforcement monitoring school zones and controlling traffic, Harness said. New crossing guards also have been trained to assist children get to school.

The important thing is too slow down, pay attention and follow traffic signals, he said.